Пробный камень
II
Herletters,oddlyenough,seemedatfirsttobringhernearerthanherpresence.Shehadadopted,andshesuccessfullymaintained,anoteasaffectionatelyimpersonalashisown;shewroteardentlyofherwork,shequestionedhimabouthis,sheevenbanteredhimontheinevitableprettygirlwhowascertainbeforelongtodivertthecurrentofhisconfidences.ToGlennard,whowasalmostastrangerinNewYork,thesightofMrs.Aubyn’swritingwaslikeavoiceofreassuranceinsurroundingsasyetinsufficientlyawareofhim.Hisvanityfoundaretrospectiveenjoymentinthesentimenthishearthadrejected,andthisfactitiousemotiondrovehimonceortwicetoHillbridge,whence,afterscenesofevasivetenderness,hereturneddissatisfiedwithhimselfandher.AshemaderoomforhimselfinNewYorkandpeopledthespacehehadclearedwiththesympathiesatthedisposalofagreeableandself-confidentyoungmen,itseemedtohimnaturaltoinferthatMrs.Aubynhadrefurnishedinthesamemannerthevoidhewasnotunwillinghisdepartureshouldhaveleft.Butinthedissolutionofsentimentalpartnershipsitisseldomthatbothassociatesareabletowithdrawtheirfundsatthesametime;andGlennardgraduallylearnedthathestoodfortheventureonwhichMrs.Aubynhadirretrievablystakedherall.Itwasnotthekindoffigurehecaredtocut.Hehadnofancyforleavinghavocinhiswakeandwouldhavepreferredtosowaquickgrowthofoblivioninthespaceswastedbyhisunconsideredinroads;butifhesuppliedtheseeditwasclearlyMrs.Aubyn’sbusinesstoseetotheraisingofthecrop.
